Spanish language course for diplomats opens in Accra
More than 20 Ghanaian diplomats and public servants are undergoing a six-week intensive training in the Spanish language to help in their communication skills and daily activities.
The course has been necessitated partly due to the diplomatic relationship that exists between Ghana and Columbia, sponsors of the programme, as well as other Latin American countries.
It is also meant to expose the cultures of both countries to the participants.
This year, representatives from 11 institutions including the various security agencies; ministries and agencies; and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) are participating in the programme.
Open to both beginners and intermediates, partakers of the course will write an examination after the duration and will be awarded certificates.
The course instructor is a professor from the Language Centre at the Pontificia Bolivariana University at Medellin, Columbia, Estella Agudelo.
Building ties
In her opening remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, stated that the course would serve as an avenue to build ties between the two countries.
As diplomats and public servants representing Ghana in many respects, Ms Tetteh indicated that there was the need to be multilingual in order to be able to learn the culture of other countries.
“By doing so, we’re building ties in various aspects such as economic, political and social,” she said.
She also expressed the hope that the course would go a long way to further deepen the bilateral relations between the two nations and other pacific countries.
The occasion was also used to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two states on visa waiver for their diplomats.
Continuous support for Ghana
The Columbian Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Claudia Turbay Quintero, lauded the bilateral relations between Ghana and her country, saying that it would continue to grow from strength to strength.
As part of its continuous support to Ghana, she indicated that plans were far advanced to collaborate with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KIPTC) to establish a think-tank which would focus on proffering solutions to ending wars across the African continent.
She said that by next month, a team of Columbian health professionals would arrive in Ghana to assist the Ministry of Health to find solutions to the prevalence of malaria in the country.
Commenting on the outcome of the course, Ms Quintero said it would open opportunities for many Ghanaians to have access to and communicate in the Spanish language.
“We’re pleased that we’re collaborating with Ghana to organise this programme for participants to continue to learn the Columbian culture,” she added.
